Stake for flat-cars



M. MARKKULA.

STAKE FOR FLAT CARS.

APPLICATION FILEII IuLY I, 1921.

Patena Nov. 29, 1921.A

trainiert MATT MARKKULA, OF FORT BRAGG, CALIFORNIA.

STARE FOR FLAT-CARS.

recenti.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ea niev. as, resi.

To all w hom. t may concern:

Be it known that I, MATT MARKKULA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Bragg, in the county of Mendocino and State of california, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stakes for Flat-Cars, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to stakes for llat cars, and it comprises a stake having an extension adapted to be received between a pair of guides carried by the car, Athe ends of the guides being oiiset to dispose the stake in inoperative position when it is moved toward'the side of the car, and means ter retaining the stake in operative position.

In the present invention, I have provided an improvement over the construction shown in my prior Patent No. 1,846,836, dated July 20, 1920. In the prior patent, I disclose a car stake which is pivotally mounted and in which a flexible element is securedon each side of the stake, the flexible element being attached to a locking bar extending transversely of the car to permit operation et the stake from the opposite side of the car.

In the present invention, I also provide a stake which may be operated from the opposite side of the car to that on which the logs are being loaded or unloaded. The invention comprises a pair` of stakes arranged opposite each other and adapted to be received in guideways having offset ends. A locking bar is attached to each of the stakes and extends transversely of the car, a chain or other suitable device being secured to the end 4of the locking bar and being adapted to be received in a locking member to retain the stake in operative position. W'hen the car is to be unloaded, the locking member is released and the weight of the log moves the stake outwardly on the guides. The stake passing over the offset end of the guide assumes an inoperative position below the top of the bunk or bolster and permits the logs to be unloaded.

The provision of a locking device operative from the opposite side of the car permits the stakes to be released without danger of the logs injuring the operator.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a car showing the stakes in position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1..

F ig. 3 is a. side elevation or" a portion of a car showing the position of the stake, and,

Fig. l is a vertical sectional'viewl on line /t-l of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral l desi `nat-es the side vsills or beams oit' the car. plurality of longitudinal beams 2 are arranged between the side sills and transverse bunks or holsters 8 are provided at suitable intervals.

Each of the stakes is arranged between a pair et transverse bunks or holsters. As. shown, the stake l is substantially triangular in shape, and comprises a body portion 5, having a flange 6 formed on twe sides. The ends of the flange are rounded, as at 7 and 8, forming bearings engaging the guides 9. The body portion of the stake is provided with. an extension having a transverse member 10 arranged below the guides. It will be apparent that the stake is slidably secured on the guides 9. The guides are carried by a block or casting having side plates- 11 and tcp plates 12, adapted to be secured to the transverse beams of the car in any suitable manner. The side plates are connected at the bot-torn by a crossplate 13. is shown, the guides extend outwardly from the side plates and are provided with a horizontal Dort-ion 14 arranged slio'htl' below they surface of the beam. Adj acent the outer end, the guide is provided with a sloping portion 15, and a horizontal offset portion 16. The casting is provided with an end plate 17, having a recess 18 formed at the upper end thereof.

A locking rod 19 is secured to each of the stakes and extends tofward the o o osite side. r i

of the car. A. chain 2O is secured to the other end et the locking red, and this chain is adapted to be passed through an opening 21 in the end plate. A locking member or latch 22 is pivotally mounted on the end plate, as at 23, the locking member being provided witha slot 24 for the reception of one of the links oft the chain. The end of the latch is eiiset, as at 95, which end may be struck with a hammer or other implement te move the latch to open or closed position.

The operation of the device is as follows:

`When the stake is to be arranged in operative position, it is disposed en the hoi-i` zontal portion lil of the guides, the chain 2O is pulled through the opening 2l and the Vlatching member 22 arranged in locked position in engagement with the cha-in. Further yinward movement of vthe stake is prevented by means of stops 26 formed on the inner ends of the guides. Vhen the logs are to be removed from the car, the locking member on one side is releasedto release the stake .on the opposite side. The stake is moved outwardly by the weight of the logs to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 of theV drawings, with the extension l0 disposed on thesloping portionA l5 of the guides and the stake is arranged in the space between the guides and the top of the oar. This permits the logs to roll off the side of the car.

It is to vbe understood that the Aform of my invention herewith shown and described is to Y be taken as a preferred example oit the same,

and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement'of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. Y o

Having thus described my invention, l claim: l

l. The combination with a fiat car, oa a guide arranged below the surface of the car, said'guide comprising a substantially horizontal portion, a sloping portion connected thereto', and an offset end substantially parallel to,` said horizontal portion, a stake slidably mounted on said guide whereby the stake is retained in operative position when in engagement with a horizontal por tion of the guide, and in inoperative position when in engagement with the offset end thereof, and means for retaining said stake in operative position.

2. The combination with a latcar, of a guide comprising a pair of spaced members guide arranged below the surfaceo the car, i

said guide comprising a substantially horizontal portion, a sloping portion connected thereto, an offset end connected to said sloping portion, said oiiset end being substantially parallel to said horizontal portion, a stake slidably mounted thereon, a rod secured to said stake, a chain secured to said rod, and means for locking` said chain to retain said stake in engagement with the horizontal portion of the guide.

4. The combination with a iiat car, of a stake mounted thereon, said stake comprisfing a substantially triangular1 body portion having an extension formed on the base thereof, a curved sloping guide secured to the car and engaging` said stake between the base and the extension, said stake being adapted to assume an operative position.

when disposed inwardly or" the guide and an Vinoperative position when disposed outwardly oi' the guide, and means for retaining said stake in operative position.

In testimony whereof I ailix Vmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

MATT MARKKULA.

f Witnesses:

LnoNonA E. CLARK,

J. A. PETTIS. 

